Wednesday, July 01, 2015

From Washington Post: [Likewise, o]rdering a Muslim prisoner to handle pork requires him “to defile himself by doing something that is completely forbidden by his religion.” [In context, the court is referring to the Muslim religion as understood by the prisoner, not passing judgment about what Islam actually requires.-EV] And there are no alternative means of allowing Jones to exercise his right to avoid handling pork besides not ordering him to handle pork. Accommodating Jones’s right to avoid handling pork isn’t less burdensome than the religious-based accommodations, such as providing Kosher diets and disposable utensils, that we have held for many years are constitutionally required.